Amy Winehouse was unable to present The Specials with their prize at the Q Awards because she got “stuck in a lift”.

The singer arrived on stage after the Coventry band had collected the Inspiration accolade at the Grosvenor hotel in London.

But, according to the BBC, she later paid tribute to the group, describing them as “the most inspirational band of all time”

It is not the first time that Winehouse, who performed with The Specials at the V Festival in August, has been left red-faced at an awards ceremony.

Last year she arrived too late to collect an Ivor Novello award, leaving her father Mitch to accept it on her behalf.

As reported earlier, Muse, Kasabian and Robert Plant were among the winners at this year's Q Awards.

(by Jason Gregory)